Real Estate Price Trends The median single family home price as of April 06 2008 for TRACY is $412,839 The average property in TRACY as of April 06 2008 has been on the market for about 61 days. The median price per square foot for homes in TRACY as of April 06 2008 is about $190 There are about 1,141 properties on the market in TRACY as of April 06 2008. The real estate market in Tracy is changing rapidly.  At $190 avg sq ft price, 1,141 homes for sale & median price at $413k, things are progressing in a good direction.  Interest rates are still pretty low.62 HOMES SOLD LAST WEEK!!!!!!! ....notice the spike on the graphs :)Call me for your neighborhood specific statistics to help you in your own real estate evaluation of Tracy real estate at 209-321-6122, Christina O'Neal 04/07/2008

Word of WARNING -- this is purely my observation based on recent experiences.Buyers who are expecting to offer more than 5 - 10% less than asking are in for a rude awakening.  We are seeing multiple offers on most "tier 1" properties.  When a property comes on the market, and you love it, if it's priced well, then you better be certain that others are thinking the same thing.  "I want to buy this house,today."  What happens then?  The best offer wins.  Multiple offers, multiple people want the house and one person will get to purchase this great house.  Will it be you? Find a great local Realtor.  Most good Realtors will ask around to see what other real estate agents have coming up.  Frequently an agent will have a listing 3 - 10 days prior to the home being listedin the MLS.  Do yours... 04/04/2008

Home Buyers let me help you find the best house possible for you.  In order for me to HELP YOU find the best house you need to HELP ME.  How can you HELP ME, well, you need to talk to a lender, a direct lender or very qualified mortgage broker in my experience is BEST.  You need to be honest with the lender, they are there to HELP YOU too.  If you don't HELP them know your financial situation then they can't HELP you to get the best loan or the best house.  You can also HELP me HELP you by being honest.  Please don't tell me you want to move tomorrow when you mean 6 months.  If you want to move in 6 months that's great, I'm still going to HELP you discover what you're really looking for, we'll just take a longer route to get there.   So - Home Buyers - keep in mind that in order for me... 03/28/2008

Real Estate Price Trends The median single family home price as of March 23 2008 for TRACY is $433,546Home Sales and Demand TrendsThe average property in TRACY as of March 23 2008 has been on the market for about 70 days.Price Per Square FootThe median price per square foot for homes in TRACY as of March 23 2008 is about $195 Homes for SaleThere are about 1,071 properties on the market in TRACY as of March 23 2008.The real estate market in Tracy is changing rapidly.  At $195 avg sq ft price, 1071 homes for sale & median price at $433k, things are progressing in a good direction.  Interest rates are still pretty low.43 HOMES SOLD LAST WEEK!!!!!!! ....notice the spike on the graphs :)Call me for your neighborhood specific statistics to help you in your own real estate evaluation of Tracy ... 03/25/2008

One of the best things in the world - a buyer (or seller) who want to work with you.It's easier when it's someone you know- - but why would a stranger call a Tracy Agent - ME - and want my help in finding them a home?  It's an easy answer... they already know me.Nope we've never ever met - but they've been reading my blog on Active Rain.  New home buyers have read about how I work, what I believe, and they feel like they already know me.I've heard it over and over "you don't know me, but I feel like I already know you.  We aren't interviewing anyone else, we want you."  Yeha -- Tracy - Mountain House home buyers come on call me -- I'd love to help you find a perfect home, escpecially since you found me on Active Rain. 03/20/2008

Are you considering buying a home in Tracy or Mountain House, CA?  Do you know what is a good neighborhood and what isn't?  Do you know which homes in Mountain House have Home Owner Association Fees and which ones don't?  hmmmmm if you don't know the answer to these questions then it's really important to work with a REALTOR that does know the answer.Do you think a REALTOR that doesn't live, work or volunteer in the area will have the answers to your questions?  Probably not -- so why not use a local agent?Do you need to know which schools your children will attend, or at the least which are the better schools?  How about when does Little League or Soccer start?  Again, will an out of the area agent REALLY know the answer to those questions?Call a local Tracy or Mountain House Realtor ... 03/18/2008

I heard that some banks are considering garnishment of wages for the short fall of an accepted short sale.  I'd love to hear if anyone else has heard this.What about taking back the RV; fancy Car, etc all bought with the refinanced money PRIOR to the short sale?Short Sales seem to have gotten the reputation of being an "easy way out" for sellers with SEVERE Buyer's remorse -- not hardship cases, but those who just don't want thier home anymore.   They just don't care, once they decide to do a short sale -- it's just a matter of time before the bank forecloses. What's the answer?  03/13/2008

Real Estate Price Trends The median single family home price as of March 09 2008 for TRACY is $444,292Home Sales and Demand TrendsThe average property in TRACY as of March 09 2008 has been on the market for about 75 days. Price Per Square FootThe median price per square foot for homes in TRACY as of March 09 2008 is about $197 Homes for SaleThere are about 1,038 properties on the market in TRACY as of March 09 2008. The real estate market in Tracy is changing rapidly.  At $197 avg sq ft price, 1038 homes for sale & median price at $444k, things are progressing in a good direction.  Interest rates are still pretty low.50 HOMES SOLD LAST WEEK!!!!!!! ....notice the spike on the graphs :)Call me for your neighborhood specific statistics to help you in your own real estate evaluation of Trac... 03/13/2008

I'm on a roll -- to read the previous blog click here.  Which brings me to this blog....I don't want another job, but I'm wlling to set up shop and start a new company.  If someone beats me to it -- call me for California.  Mystery Shopping BANK REO properties.  What a perfect way to keep REO agents honest and working hard for thier client.  Spot checking condition, calling agents for access, verfing comps all of it.I spent many years as a Mystery Shopper for several LARGE fast food chains, and QUALITY control is what it's all about.  Why doesn't that apply to REO Listings?  03/12/2008

Ok, I'll admit it I'm green eyed jealous.  I'd love to have a few REO accounts.  I don't want 1000's of listings, heck I don't even want 100 or 50.  I want 6 - 10 REO - Bank Owned listings that I can service well.I'm tired of calling every agent in town to get combination codes. (Our MLS prevents codes from being put in the MLS - hence the phone calls!) I'm really tired of REO agents who tell prospective clients "Here's the code, let yourself in, if you want to write a contract call me." I KNOW I can and WOULD do a better job than that for my client -- even if that client is a BANK.Which now brings up another question - why is it that there are many agents - not all - who take these REO listings and don't treat the client - the bank with respect.  They don't do everything necessary to ... 03/10/2008

Some where, some time, some how, some one should have warned me.  There is a LOT of paperwork involved in selling a home.  I've spent ALL day doing paper work, sure an assistant would help, but I'll have to find the person to train.  (I know there are vitual assistants -- but oh my to find the time to talk to them. Plus I need to talk face to face with someone.)The thing is - I really would rather be out with showing first time buyers homes to buy than sitting in an office printing, copying, putting files together, which is why I had to spend all day today catching up.  I can't even talk on the phone intelligently when I'm trying to put papers together.ok I just had to vent....... off to blog about something FUN! :-) 03/10/2008

 WOW _- check out these numbersThere are 808 homes on the market -- that's way down from over 1000!  The best news of all is that there are 203 homes in escrow!  WOW!There are 111 homes in escrow in Tracy that are less than $330,000!  Amazing.If you've been waiting for the market to hit bottom, and you want a home less than $350,00 the clock is ticking rapidly.Call your local Realtor TODAY and start the process, you may have to bid on several homes before you get an accepted offer.  If you're not currently working with a REALTOR call me for specialized service.    03/08/2008

I'm sure some of you are screaming  Real Estate is NOT a game.  Isn't it?  Oh it's serious, and we are dealing with our clients largest asset, but isn't it about Beating the Market?  Don't we want to FIND the best home for our clients and BEAT everyone else to it?  Don't we want to sell our listings for TOP dollar and entice everyone to buy them?  Sure we do.Enter Honor the Game.  I've spent the last 12 years leaving a legacy of Honor the Game to Tracy Little League.  As President, then District Administrator this was my mantra.  HONOR THE GAME.  I often said if you don't know what that means -- ASK ME.It seems to me that as people's livelihoods were challengededdue to a shifting market so went their integrity.  There are far too many "agents" who have sacrificed honor and integrity for... 03/08/2008

We tend to believe every bad thing we hear.  Do we believe every good thing you hear?Here was the 11:00 news tonight -- the housing market is turning around.   May banks are now pricing homes undr what a home appraises for, and now investors are BIDDING, mulitple offers on well priced home!  We're talking 12 - 21 offers per home! Well- DUH - I could have told you that.If you are thinking of purchasing a home do it now!  If you are thinking of investing in Real Estate, it's time to stop thinking and start buying!  Get going - there is still a lot or properties available -- however -- the best priced, tier 1 properties are disappearing at a rapid rate with multiple offers.Case in point in Tracy there were 42 homes PENDING last week!  WOW We didn't have 42 homes the entire month of Novemb... 03/06/2008

Real Estate Price Trends The median single family home price as of March 02 2008 for TRACY is $466,434 Home Sales and Demand TrendsThe average property in TRACY as of March 02 2008 has been on the market for about 87 days.Price Per Square FootThe median price per square foot for homes in TRACY as of March 02 2008 is about $201  Homes for SaleThere are about 969 properties on the market in TRACY as of March 02 2008.The real estate market in Tracy is changing rapidly.  At $201 avg sq ft price, 969 homes for sale & median price at $466k, things are progressing in a good direction.  Interest rates are still pretty low.41 HOMES SOLD LAST WEEK!!!!!!! ....notice the spike on the graphs :)Call me for your neighborhood specific statistics to help you in your own real estate evaluation of Tracy r... 03/04/2008

Just a quick update, with all the doom and gloom about the Real Estate market I wanted to let you know that BUYERS are BUYING especially in Tracy and Mountain House. Prices are again affordable for first time buyers, and investors are snatching up the Tier 1 - best priced, best conditions homes on the market.If you need to move, don't think it is hopeless, yes your home will not sell for what it would have 2 years ago, but if you've owned it for a while you'll be fine.What about buying something, building wealth? Do you have equity in your home, what about leveraging that money and purchasing a positive cash flow investment property?Call me today - if you know anyone who is renting, tell them to call me. I can help them find a home. One of my recent clients purchased her first home and... 03/03/2008

I actually heard an agent say this the other day -- no kidding.Buyer's are NOT liars they just don't know what they want.Take the buyer that says my home has to have kitchen window that faces the street?  Once we start asking the RIGHT questions and find out the emotion behind the want then we will better understand what the BUYER really wants.My home has to have 2 stories -- you show them 2 stories until you're blue, THEN they see it ther PERFECT house and it's a ONE STORY!  Well, had you asked the right questions perhap they just wanted the kids near them in a one story, or wanted a sound barrior, who knows -- but what was the TRUE WHY to what they want or don't want.Buyer's are LIARS - I'm guessing the agent who stated this just isn't good at getting to the bottom the emotional reaso... 03/02/2008

How do you wade through all the homes available to purchase in Tracy, Ca. There are 980 homes on the market - 135 of those are UNDER $250,000! WOW -- now do you really want to go look at 135 homes? Probably not.Here's what to do -- 1) chose a great agent, one who knows the market. Personally I use a tier system, I'll let you know the homes at are First Tier and Second Tier -- depending on how soon you're looking to purchase something depends on which Tier we'll look at.First Tier properties do not stay on the market very long. They are priced very well, they are fixed up, and easily to move in to.2) Sign up a great website - you can use mine if you'd like and start watching and searching the market yourself. A great agent will keep thier eyes and ears open for your perfect home, but no ... 03/02/2008

Are you reading headlines like these?Recently, in Tracy, we had a house fire that happened the day before they were to be evicted.  I know it sounds suspicious, but it saddens me that we as people could judge them without knowing all the facts:the bank technically owned the home already.their home insurance won't cover them because they did not "technically" own it.a Foreclosure notice was posted on their front door for seven days & was not removed.the notice was found still on the front door of their burned house.their whole family was in the house when it was started.What's my point?  How can we help, as realtors in this industry, get the word out to homeowners; "We can help them with some possible betters solutions than just plain losing your house to foreclosure"?Call your mortgage ... 03/01/2008

Real Estate Price Trends The median single family home price as of February 24 2008 for TRACY is $477,498.Price Per Square FootThe median price per square foot for homes in TRACY as of February 24 2008 is about $202 Homes for SaleThere are about 940 properties on the market in TRACY as of February 24 2008. The real estate market in Tracy is changing rapidly.  At 202 avg sq ft price, 940 homes for sale & median price at $477k, things are progressing in a good direction.  Interest rates are still pretty low.Call me for your neighborhood specific statistics to help you in your own real estate evaluation of Tracy real estate at 209-321-6122, Christina O'Neal 02/24/2008